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| Vital Statistics: |
| Place of Origin: United States |
| Coat Type: both long & short-haired varieties |
| Color: any color of cat |
| Temperament: intelligent, friendly, playful, gentle |
February’s Cat of the Month
Friendly, highly intelligent and good with children makes this cat a great family pet.
Where does the American Bobtail come from?
The breed of American Bobtail started in the US. According to legend, the original Bobtail was the result of a mating between a tabby cat and an actual Bobcat. The true story is a bit different.
The father of the breed, a cat named Yodie, was adopted by John and Brenda Sanders, while vacationing in Southern Arizona. They brought this brown tabby kitten with a short tail back to their home in Iowa. He mated with the couples domestic color pointed female and the resulting litter was a bunch of kittens with short tails. The bloodlines where further refined and has been an accepted breed since 1989.
Unlike the Japanese Bobtail, whose short tail is a recessive gene, the American Bobtail is a naturally occurring gene mutation that is dominant.
What do American Bobtails look like?
Besides the shortened tail, the American Bobtail is a stocky animal. Its chest is full and broad and it has wide hips. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front. Feet are round, sometimes with tufts of hair between the toes. Bobtails have broad, wedged heads and a strong, full jaw. Ears are medium size with rounded tips. Eyes are almost almond shaped and can be an assortment of colors. There are both long and short hair varieties. Coat is any cat color. Tails are 1/3 to 1/2 normal size. Bobtails are not fully developed until they are 2-3 years old.
Do American Bobtails make good pets?
American Bobtails have a dog-like personality. They are active cats that are friendly, playful, energetic and extremely intelligent. They have been known to play fetch with their owners. The are patient with children and tolerant of being dragged around. Despite their wild appearance, Bobtails are gentle animals.
Where can I adopt an American Bobtail?
The Bobtail Rescue Network has cats looking for a good home, all across the US.
Possible Health Issues
Those cats born without tails may have health issues due to a too short spine.
